[dropcap]O[/dropcap]n May 27 and 28 the Treasure Coast Builders Association fishing tradition continues with its 30th Annual Memorial Weekend Fishing Tournament.
Similar to last year, tournament activities will be hosted at Pirates Cove Resort and Marina on the Manatee Pocket in Port Salerno. Tournament co-chairs this year are Julie Coker, of Coker Construction Services, and Wendy Dittmar, of Manning Building Supply. Cash prizes in the offshore division will be paid to first, second and third place anglers in five categories including heaviest dolphin, kingfish, wahoo, snapper and grouper. Cash and prizes will be awarded to inshore catch and release division anglers in first, second and third place. Anglers in the inshore division will submit digital images of their largest snook, trout and/or redfish, and winners will be determined by the highest combined inches. In the event of a tie, the first angler to upload his/her photographs will be awarded the higher prize.
Tournament festivities begin on Friday, May 27, 2016, at Pirates Cove Resort, with pre-registered boats signing in and late boat entries being accepted from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. A captains’ reception kicks off at 6 p.m. and will feature silent and live auctions, which will include the offering of a four-color print of this year’s event logo signed by the artist, Jason Mathias, as well as music, games for kids, and raffle tickets for a “Wheel Barrel of Cheer”, along with a chance to win a Harley Davidson, sponsored by Treasure Coast Harley Davidson and Coastal Building Contractors. A mandatory captains meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m.
“Tournament tee shirts will be available for purchase, and there will be lots of complimentary appetizers from Pirates Loft, and of course the great door prizes,” promised tournament co-chair Coker. “On Saturday, boats must check out with the committee boat from either the St. Lucie Inlet or Fort Pierce Inlet, both by VHF radio and visually, between 6:15 a.m. and 10 a.m. Check in time is by 4 p.m. The weigh station opens at 12 noon and closes at 4 p.m.”
The entry fee for the offshore division per boat (up to 4 anglers) through May 23 is $295; afterwards, $325. The entry fee for the inshore division per boat (up to 4 anglers) is $150 through May 23 and $175 afterwards. All inshore anglers must fish from a vessel—no wading or fishing from the shore.
Besides the two tournament divisions (inshore and offshore), a tournament within a tournament featuring a cash prize of up to $10,000 is open to registered captains and anglers for a separate entry fee of $50. A minimum of 240 entries is required for a full payout.
After the scales close, an awards barbecue begins at 5 p.m. Tickets for the barbecue are available for purchase. For more information on the tournament visit www.treasurecoastba.com or call the TCBA office at (772) 336-8222, (772) 562-8222 or (863) 467-2007.
Partial proceeds from the tournament benefit the Future Builders of America Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for local students who are pursuing careers in the construction industry.
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